1
as in snake
a limbless reptile with a long body
an Aztec carving of a feathered serpent representing the god Quetzalcoatl
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2
3
as in traitor
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance
a serpent in their midst had betrayed the revolutionaries to the authorities
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of serpent
If this animal sounds like a Burmese python, that’s because the serpent-like fish — known as Asian swamp eels — have a lot in common with the big, invasive constrictors.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2026
Sightings of mythical creatures in Rhode Island are far and few between these days, but a giant serpent that supposedly once lived in the woods of present-day Coventry is the subject of enduring local lore.
—Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Except every Eden contains a serpent, and this one’s viper is particularly venomous.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
Even the Tampere Cathedral is a Modernist provocation, with a treatment of the Resurrection by Finnish symbolist Magnus Enckell; a serpent painted into the ceiling; and another painting that depicts death as a kind of caring angel.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serpent
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2026
Sightings of mythical creatures in Rhode Island are far and few between these days, but a giant serpent that supposedly once lived in the woods of present-day Coventry is the subject of enduring local lore.
—Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Except every Eden contains a serpent, and this one’s viper is particularly venomous.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
Even the Tampere Cathedral is a Modernist provocation, with a treatment of the Resurrection by Finnish symbolist Magnus Enckell; a serpent painted into the ceiling; and another painting that depicts death as a kind of caring angel.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for serpent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serpent
Noun
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Much like the more popular hobby of bird watching for certain types of rare birds, there are Connecticut herpetologists and photographers that seek out rare snakes.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
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Sea snakes also occupy the shallow coastal waters of the UAE.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Comedy Central series' new episode, which aired Wednesday, continued its season-long thread of mocking Trump and depicting him in a romantic relationship with Satan.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The show continues to run with its gag of depicting Trump with comically small genitals and as Satan’s lover.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
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In the context of his time, Jesus was considered a traitor — an enemy of the Roman Empire.—
Michael J Christensen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Dangerous reptiles like cobras, mambas, vipers, anacondas and rattlesnakes are all banned from private ownership.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
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Once revived, the viper immediately bites the farmer.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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While the movie has some fun asking whether people actually want to know everything about their partners (a devil’s bargain since time immemorial), its real interest lies in how that knowledge is colored by who shares it.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
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Its theme — that the rich are different, and in not-good ways — meant she’d be forced into a ritualistic game of hide-and-seek, running for her life from her devil-worshipping, masters-of-the-world in-laws.—
Michael Ordoña,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It’s been three years since Spoon’s last album, Lucifer on the Sofa.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
26 Aug. 2025
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Griffin’s other credits include The Bad Guy, Jersey Boys, Lucifer and S.W.A.T., to name just a few.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Serpent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serpent. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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